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News Article

Two Allies Ratify NATO Expansion

American Forces Press Service

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb. 10, 1998  Canada and Denmark during the first week in February became the first NATO allies to ratify the admission of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to the security alliance.

NATO invited the three new member candidates to begin the accession process at a summit in Madrid last July. All member nations must ratify their admission. Admission of the three Central European nations will bring membership to 19.

NATO officials hope to admit the three former Warsaw Pact members by NATO's 50th anniversary in 1999.